Kiely hits back in Twitter race row

3:30pm Thursday 7th February 2013 in News

Aaron Kiely Aaron Kiely

A CONTROVERSIAL councillor has publicly defended himself after coming under attack for tweeting a race-related slur at the Conservatives.

Aaron Kiely, a ward councillor for Ockendon, took to Twitter on Monday to say: “Tories don’t offer black communities anything apart from misery and whipped up racism. My honest opinion...”

That led Conservative councillor for South Chafford Tunde Ojetola to slam Kiely’s comments as “appalling”.

The Ockendon councillor’s remarks came after he was asked whether Britain is ready for a black Prime Minister and whether Tory rising star Adam Afriyie would attract young black voters.

Cllr Kiely, pictured above right, said he did not think the MP, who is rumoured to be considering a leadership challenge to Prime Minister David Cameron, would win votes.

Cllr Ojetola, pictured below right, said: “As a black man and a proud Conservative, Cllr Kiely’s slur appalls me. “Conservatives offer every community in Thurrock, and indeed Britain, the same thing – an opportunity to be part of a better, united Britain.

“Cllr Kiely’s comments spread an ‘us and them’ mentality, which aims to divide Thurrock according to race and colour.

“His comments are a disgrace. “They reflect appallingly on the council, and they reflect appallingly on the Labour party and he should resign immediately. “If Labour are truly committed to a one-nation approach, they should dismiss Kiely and distance themselves from this kind of behaviour immediately.” The leader of Thurrock Council, John Kent, refused to comment on the councillor’s tweet and also declined to comment on Cllr Kiely’s no-show at the last full council meeting two weeks ago, leading critics to question Cllr Kent’s judgment.

But in a rare move, Cllr Kiely spoke publicly, telling the Gazette: “What an absurd charge. There was nothing remotely racist in my tweet.

“The Tory-led Government is lowering the living standards of millions of people. So support for Tory candidates, regardless of their race, is declining in elections.

“Young black people like myself are no different from other voters in Thurrock. We can all see the damage being done to the economy and our public services.

“Because their policies are failing, the Tories attempt to drive a wedge between different communities. “The sooner Labour can eject the Tories the better for all in Thurrock and the rest of the country.”

Comments(21)

jb411 says...
4:39pm Thu 7 Feb 13

Isn't he the one that hasn't done any work for ages but still claims expenses?

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jb411 says...
4:47pm Thu 7 Feb 13

Cllr John Kent, the leader of Thurrock Labour, was asked by his Tory counterpart Phil Anderson whether he believes the lack of commitment being shown by Ockendon ward councillor Aaron Kiely is damaging the reputation of politics in Thurrock.

The councillor did not attend one meeting of the working group for housing policy earlier this year and has turned up at full council meetings just once every six months, to avoid being struck off.

The Gazette revealed last week he has not made one call from his council phone in six months and constituents can’t remember the last time he was at his own ward surgery.

At last week’s full council meeting, Cllr Kent said he could not “defend the indefensible”.

So he calls this work?????

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PoorFleet says...
4:59pm Thu 7 Feb 13

He cares so much about his constituents and the 'misery' they endure that from his position of relative influence and power he does absolutely nothing about it... wait.... what?

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CAMP-DWELLER says...
6:08pm Thu 7 Feb 13

If the silent majority do'nt get off their a****'s they will get the Prime Minister they deserve.

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CAMP-DWELLER says...
6:11pm Thu 7 Feb 13

Left out " and vote"

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DannyButcher says...
6:26pm Thu 7 Feb 13

When is this smug, selfish idiot going to either step down or get kicked out?

As a Councillor he has a responsibility to those in his ward. When will this fool grow up and stop spouting total rubbish? He is in a position where people pay attention to his words, because he is a councillor, yet he does NOTHING but let his mouth run away with him.

This is a totally pathetic situation, where he is allowed to get away with it.

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A Dermot says...
6:39pm Thu 7 Feb 13

Aaron Kiely isn't a 'Black Person'.

He is White British with some African heritage.

Te only person trying to drive a wedge between people is Aaron Kiely.

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DannyButcher says...
6:51pm Thu 7 Feb 13

Someone needs to drive a wedge between this joker and being a Councillor!

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Thurrock Trojan says...
7:04pm Thu 7 Feb 13

And someone wants to drive a wedge between Thurrock, and Lady Sheffield (Jackie Doyle-Price) and Lord Loughton (Stephen Metcalfe).

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Cvh says...
7:45am Fri 8 Feb 13

Our Labour Leader of TBC needs to act but he wont

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Bernard 87 says...
8:24am Fri 8 Feb 13

"The Ockendon councillor’s remarks came after he was asked whether Britain is ready for a black Prime Minister and whether Tory rising star Adam Afriyie would attract young black voters"

Whoever asked him this must have been doing so to wind him up given his track record and hard left politics.

Ps - Aaron you are not black...you are mixed race.

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DannyButcher says...
12:36pm Fri 8 Feb 13

From the Daily Mail:

'To cover the costs of fulfilling their public duties, all 49 Thurrock councillors are paid a basic attendance allowance each year, of £8,000.83.'

Clearly this self righteous little ponce isn't doing this, so how is he allowed to do, or not do, what he does?

He also opposed Abu Hamza's extradition, which is just pure idiocy.

He also doesn't appear to agree with free speech for all, only some, as his open letter regarding the publishing of a Nick Griffin interview. (From the mancunion)

“We demand that the Editor of ‘Leeds Student’ remove this offensive interview that gives a platform to a fascist immediately,” Mr Kiely said in the post. “Leeds Student risks giving legitimacy to a fascist organisation, and boosts the BNP’s attempts to join the political mainstream.”

This self important, selfish fool needs to stand down, instead of stealing from the tax payer. But I guess sticking up for Abu Hamza and trying to censor everyone else, says it all.

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Cvh says...
12:43pm Fri 8 Feb 13

This should be brought up in the commons

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Marcus P says...
9:15pm Fri 8 Feb 13

Is is just me or is the term "racist" the most misused word in Britain today?

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ebagumtrebor says...
7:43am Sat 9 Feb 13

The term racist is used far too much. I think there must have been a school somewhere that all left wing parents sent their children to learn words like racist, multicultural, diversity etc and interpret them into something that manifests itself against anyone that disagreed with the lefts mass immigration policy. They also invented things like hate crime because crimes carried out against white, middle class males are far less serious than those carried out against ethnic minorities etc. The wonderful whacky world of the Labour party.

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Thurrock Trojan says...
12:54pm Sat 9 Feb 13

Marcus P wrote:
Is is just me or is the term "racist" the most misused word in Britain today?
I've witnessed many of our African friends play the race card.

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DannyButcher says...
1:20pm Sat 9 Feb 13

Racism is something that only happens against ethnic minorities, according to those minorities and the PC lefties.

The problem is, give it some time and white British people will be the ethnic minority. Unfortunately racism will still only be viewed as one way, as it currently is.

Are the Muslim vigilantes going to be charged with racism? Probably not. What about the gang of Pakistani men deliberately attacking white girls because they see them as scum? There are inherently racist cultures in this country, and the vast majority of them are not from the white British.

The PC brigade have ruined this country, and I fear there is no way back other than civil war. Of course, that should never happen, but even so this country is a joke. When two men go for a job, and the more qualified white man loses out because of 'minority quotas', something is going seriously wrong. I thought we were meant to be equal......

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skinthegoat says...
7:03pm Sat 9 Feb 13

All is far too late now, Danny, and ebagum. The die is cast and soon , very soon, we shall be strangers and outcast s in our own country. If I wish to be selfish I shall not see it . but I weep for my child, and my grandchild.When my father and grandfather (and no doubt yours ), fought and died for this country did they die in vain?
Traitors and quislings have given our England away.

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skinthegoat says...
10:25am Sun 10 Feb 13

skinthegoat wrote:
All is far too late now, Danny, and ebagum. The die is cast and soon , very soon, we shall be strangers and outcast s in our own country. If I wish to be selfish I shall not see it . but I weep for my child, and my grandchild.When my father and grandfather (and no doubt yours ), fought and died for this country did they die in vain?
Traitors and quislings have given our England away.
A bit of unintended hyperbole there, meant to say "people like my father..".luckily enough he survived.
Sorry to mislead.

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aberline 88 says...
2:06pm Sun 10 Feb 13

i want my england back, i want my england back

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techguy2013 says...
6:52pm Tue 12 Feb 13

I am absolutely discusted with this country and i am equally discusted with this government and i am a born and bread englishman this country has gone to sh1t and it is the fools at our government that have let it happen i remember when it was easy to get a job in this country and now it is mearly impossible.

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